More House School

Boarding Community

Our Ethos

To provide an environment where boys staying away from home are cared for physically, emotionally and spiritually;

To help evey child and young person to grow to his full maturity as a member of a thriving, caring and happy shared community;

To provide as great a wealth as possible of meaningful and enriching experiences, from which each boarder may choose to allow his individual tastes and predilections to grow into a balanced, fulfilled and distinctive personality.

The school is committed to providing tailored individual support to allow each pupil to flourish both academically and socially. Our boarders experience this commitment far beyond the school day, benefiting from the sense of community and excitement that drives the residential provision.

We believe that happiness is a vital prerequisite of boys’ successful development and our boarders thrive on the close relationships they build with members of our full-time boarding staff. Giving our students the encouragement to make the most of their education is complemented by the progress our boarders make in developing their social communication and interaction skills, independence and self-confidence. The boarding experience is both stimulating and rewarding, and there is a continuous focus on preparing our pupils for independent living after full-time education.

Each boarder is supported by their specific housemaster or housemistress who works closely with the parents and the academic staff to monitor boys’ academic and personal development. We believe strongly in creating a stable and caring family-style atmosphere and recognise the importance of our boarders maintaining close contact with home during the week. Parents are welcome to visit their sons in school at any time and frequent communication between parents and the house staff is encouraged. At More House there is always someone who cares, and we take the term ‘in loco parentis' extremely seriously.

Mr Fred Pennell - Head of Boarding - Deputy Head

Mr Pennell has been at More House since 2015 having previously worked as a Housemaster at King Edward’s School, Witley (about 10 miles from More House). He has taught Physical Education to ‘A’ Level and I.B. Sports Science over a 35-year career that has seen him work in schools in Dorset, Hampshire, Kent, Cape Town and New Zealand. He continues to oversee the development of an excellent team of boarding staff at More House, whilst also enjoying his sporting pursuits (cricket, football, cycling and water sports) when away from school alongside his wife Jane at their home in Bournemouth.

Mr Luke Webb - Deputy Head of Boarding

Mr Webb is Deputy Head of Boarding at More House and has a connection to the school stretching from his time here as a pupil leaving in 1996. A staff member since 2005, he is vastly experienced in his support of boarders and currently works within the Sixth Form corridor in St. Anthony’s boarding house. He is the ‘go-to’ person for organising evening excursions and generally everything else that makes boarding tick!

His expertise is in Outdoor pursuits and his boarding role is supplemented by his work as whole-school co-ordinator of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme plus the annual school ski-trip.

Mr Alastair McGregor - Senior Housemaster

Mr McGregor is Senior Housemaster in Main House boarding and overseas the staff who work with the younger boarders up until they move to St. Anthony’s in Year 10. He is a very experienced boarding practitioner and his background in many sports, outdoor pursuits and pastoral work makes him the ideal Housemaster and role model for the boarders.

Outside of his work he is a keen hockey and cricket player at local clubs, a fellow coffee devotee alongside his Head of Boarding and a highly practical ‘fix-it’ man, having helped to build the very popular boarders’ pizza oven and barbecue at the rear of Main House.

Mr James Jones - Housemaster

Mr Jones works in St. Anthony’s boarding house, predominantly with our Year 10 & 11 boarders. He has been at the school since 2012 and is our acclaimed academic prep support ‘king’ at GCSE level. His love of sport, especially cricket and football (his refereeing of school matches is legendary) is matched only by his dedication in organising trips for the boarders, especially to football matches or the equally memorable Year 11 eat-out treat nights.

Miss Charlotte Boyle - Housemistress

Miss Boyle has been working at More House since 2015 and has developed extensive experience firstly with the Year 8 boarders in Main House and subsequently at the other end of the boarding scale by looking after the sixth formers in St. Anthony’s.

She has a creative and supportive style working alongside the boys and is developing her career within the ‘Well-being’ whole-school initiative with daytime pastoral staff.

Miss Julia Collington - Housemistress

Miss Collington has been at More House since the beginning of 2017, having been an Assistant Housemistress at King Edward’s School in Witley. An extremely experienced boarding member of staff, having grown up in a boarding environment with parents who worked in boarding schools themselves. She has an enthusiastic and outgoing personality which has worked ideally with our Year 10 and 11 boarders. She is keen to develop her teaching career as a Food Technology practitioner and has already established a part-time timetable at the school.

Outside of boarding her interests are diverse and include knitting, cinema going and 'experimental baking'.

Mr Jarred Cooper - Housemaster

Mr Cooper has been a housemaster at More House since 2015 having arrived from South Africa to live here with his now wife, Nelia. He has worked in both boarding houses but is currently responsible for looking after Years 9 and 10 in Main House. He also has the whole-school responsibility for co-ordinating after-school activities – a vital cog in the boarding wheel.

Outside of boarding he is a keen rugby player for Farnham RFC and an even keener Springbok rugby fan. He and his wife have been using their holiday time to travel around as much of the UK and Europe as they can.

Mr Jake Francis - Housemaster

Mr Francis has been a boarding housemaster since January 2016, has worked in St. Anthony’s across years 10, 11 and sixth form He is a qualified music teacher, spending time in the highly successful Music Department.

Outside of boarding he is a keen cyclist, gym-goer and professional-standard drummer. He is our resident Welshman and expert on all things from that land!

Mr Rory Flynn

Housemaster

Mr Flynn is the newest of our boarding staff having arrived here in September 2017 from a similar position at the Royal Alexandra’s School in Surrey. He has extensive More House experience having been Head Boy at the school before going off to study Art at University. He is currently working in Main House with the Year 8 boarders and has thrown himself into his role, most notably by directing this year’s Boarders’ talent show.

Outside of boarding he is an already exhibited artist and has further ambition to extend his career in this direction. He is also a very fine golfer with a single-figure handicap.

Miss Ellen Voice - Housemistress

Miss Voice has been a member of the boarding staff at More House since September 2015, but has had association with the school prior to this, not least the fact that her mother has taught here for some years. She has worked within Main House with the Year 8 & 9 boarders and has been an integral part of developing the vibrant and creative programme within the St James and St Jeromes corridors. She has definite ambitions to further her career within counselling, leading on from her University degree qualification.

Miss Sarah Roberts - Housemistress

Miss Roberts has been a housemistress in the Main House junior corridor since arriving at More House in September 2015. Her specialist support of the boarders in Year 6 & Year 7 has seen many creative and active initiatives which have seen them stretch their imaginations, promote better self-organisation and keep them active throughout their boarding lives.

Outside of boarding Miss Roberts is an avid reader and also enjoys returning home to spend time with her family. She is also our resident staff 'gaming' expert which often means that she understands what the boys are talking about in terms of their screen time, when other boarding staff might not! As a potential career direction, she is interested in developing more expertise in special needs, and particularly in assistive technology - looking at how recent developments in technology might be used to help those with SEN.

Each boarder is supported by a named residential housemaster or housemistress, directly responsible for between eight and fifteen boarders within a larger residential staff team, led by the Deputy Head (Head of Boarding).

There are two boarding houses, both in the centre of the school site, to which no pupil has access during school hours, and boarders only have access during boarding time. Boarders are supported to develop their interests in a wide variety of activities and opportunities, and to develop their social skills and their independence. Boarders are encouraged and supported to be personally involved in planning with their housemaster or housemistress how they can best be cared for as a boarder at More House School.